338 
Ayricultiire of Noi-folk. 
acquired a bad name was its having been so generally accompanied, 
in former times, by what was really bad farming. 
Near Acle, on loam with clay subsoil of a yellow colour, I 
observed this singular course : — turnips, potatoes, beans, wheat, 
clover, wheat. I neither wish to advocate its more general adop- 
tion, nor to say that I saw any proofs of its having been disadvan- 
tageous ; but I think it my duty to stale the details in carrying it 
out, and the particular results I observed from it. 
There is nothing very remarkable in the preparation for, or the 
management of, the turnip crop ; but, as on all other highly cul- 
tivated farms, care is taken that it shall be a good one, by apply- 
ing manure, &c. liberally. After consuming the .turnips (the 
larger portion of them on the land by sheep), it is ploughed twice, 
when convenient, and as the weather is favourable, and then left 
level, until about the middle of April, when furrows are opened, 
3 feet apart, with a double mould-board or Northumberland 
plough. The potato sets are conveyed in a one-horse cart, from 
which they are supplied by a man with a large shovel to six 
women or boys, with strong aprons to hold the pieces, until they 
have dropped them singly into the furrows, at the distance of 
9 inches apart. The droppers are followed by another double 
plough, to cover in the seed by reversing the furrows, which are 
then to be rolled down, in order to make them firm. This number 
of workpeople are enabled, by following the method described, 
to set 6 acres in a day. Whilst the potatoes are growing, the 
land is horse-hoed and hand-hoed as often as possible, on the 
supposition, that every stirring of the soil admits fresh air and 
increases the crop. After the potatoes have been taken up, the 
land is ploughed. In the spring, single furrows are ploughed, 
3 feet apart, in which the beans are scattered, at about the rate of 
2^ bushels per acre. It is observed, also, that the crops of beans 
are much improved by applying some manure in the rows with 
them. The land is then harrowed, first along the furrows, then 
across them. It will be understood that the beans are here 
applied in single rows ; but some prefer the gardener's method, 
of having two rows, so near, as only to admit a small hoe, when 
necessary, but with wide intervals adjoining, to admit the horse- 
hoe, air, &c. Many deposit the seed by drill. All allow the 
great importance of horse-hoeing, and hand-hoeing, as much as 
possible. 'V\\c wheat is drilled; the rows 9 inches apart, and 
3 bushels of seed per acre. While the crop is growing, the land 
is horse or hand hoed. As there is nothing very peculiar in the 
treatment of the other crops, the question arises, how does this 
system answer? The potatoes are generally very good, and the 
value of a good crop of them is well known. The beans being 
